Money Fox

See How Much Cash Your Home Could Unlock

Compare home equity options side by side, learn how each one works, and see which could fit you.

Find the right way to use your home's equity

There's more than one way to turn home equity into cash, and they work very differently. Some give you a lump sum with a fixed payment. Some are a line of credit you draw on. Some have no monthly payment at all. Start with the guide that matches what you're trying to do.

HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan Both borrow against your home. Here is how the payments, risks and costs differ, with real numbers. Read the guide → Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) A revolving line of credit secured by your home that you draw on as you need it. Read the guide → Home Equity Loan A lump sum with a fixed rate and fixed monthly payments, secured by your home. Read the guide → Cash-Out Refinance Replace your mortgage with a larger one and take the difference in cash. Read the guide → Home Equity Investment (HEI) Get cash today in exchange for a share of your home's future value. No monthly payments. Read the guide → Reverse Mortgage For homeowners 62 and older: turn equity into cash with no required monthly mortgage payment. Read the guide →

How it works

  1. Answer a few questions. Your goal, home value, mortgage balance and credit range. It takes about a minute.
  2. See your estimate and matches. We show about how much equity you may be able to access and the options that fit your answers.
  3. Compare and choose. Open the options you like, or browse them all in our comparison directory, filtered by how much you want to borrow.

Common questions

What is home equity?

Home equity is the part of your home you own outright: its current value minus what you still owe on your mortgage. If your home is worth $400,000 and you owe $250,000, you have about $150,000 in equity.

How much can I borrow against my home?

It depends on the lender and the product. Many lenders let you borrow up to a combined loan-to-value (CLTV) limit, often around 80% of your home's value, counting your existing mortgage. The quiz uses that 80% rule of thumb for its estimate, but each provider sets its own limits.

Will checking my options affect my credit score?

Seeing your options here does not affect your credit score. If you apply with a provider, that company may check your credit, and some checks can affect your score. The provider will tell you before it does.

Do I need good credit?

Requirements vary a lot. Some providers look for a minimum credit score and others look at more of your overall picture. That's why the quiz asks about your credit range, to skip options that probably wouldn't fit.

Is this site a lender?

No. Money Fox is a free comparison service. We're not a lender or broker, and the companies we show set their own approval decisions and terms. We may be paid by those companies, which is explained on our advertiser disclosure page.

We may be compensated by the companies shown on this site, which can affect which options appear and their order. See our advertiser disclosure. This site is for information only and isn't financial advice.